Brisbane actor nobly suffers slings and harassing of outraged unfortunate
It was much ado about something when a Brisbane actor had to fend off a barrage of abuse and smashed glass while performing in the open air on Saturday night.
Rob Pensalfini of Queensland Shakespeare Ensemble was in the midst of an eloquent soliloquy during "Much Ado About Nothing" at Roma St Parklands when a drunk passerby/streetperson who took exception to his declamation began yelling abuse.
Assuming at first it was part of the play (the production was not entirely faithful to the text), audience members looked on in amusement as Pensalfini verbally parried with the interjector. The non-Shakespearean language from the visitor soon made it clear he was working from a different script, and the audience roared with laughter when Pensalfini as Benedick gestured histrionically at his critic while keeping to his lines (something about the mysteries of women).
This further outraged the visitor who, declaring that Pensalfini was "a prick", threw a bottle at him. The bottle missed its target to smash all over the concrete stage.
As the intruder slunk off with security guards not far behind him, Pensalfini finished his scene without missing a beat and exited to admiring applause.
The broken glass was swept up by a crew member during a later comic scene with the actors skilfully incorporating it into their routine.
All-in-all, a great piece of living theatre, and QSE deserve congratulation for the way they played it.
— John Henningham
22 October 2007
See Alison Cotes' review of Much Ado About Nothing.
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